When KYMN Radio and Northfield Patch began sounding the alarm at around 6 am that one of the suspects had fired at police officers and fled, members of the Northfield Police Department assumed that citizens would respond in droves to help capture one of the suspects who was still at large and believed to be in the Sechler Park area.

By time the Northfield News began covering the story several hours later, gloom was apparent on the faces of the police officers on duty. “We had extra department staff ready to handle the flood of citizen volunteers by deputizing them and issuing them firearms,” said Taylor Marcus, Northfield’s Public Safety Director. “No one showed up. No one emailed. No one tweeted. We had no choice to but to call other law enforcement agencies for help. It was embarrassing.”

When the suspect was finally apprehended mid-morning, the Defeat of Jesse James Days and Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce boards of directors were already in an emergency joint session. “It’s a Category 4 public relations nightmare,” said Chamber Executive Director Marie Schmaltzy. “If word of this colossal failure of our citizens to respond gets out, we’re likely to see a devastating impact on attendance at DJJD next year.”

“I’m not surprised at all,” said Dewayne Reddy, DJJD board member. “Northfielders have essentially become a bunch of yellow-bellied, lily-livered, milk-toasted, panty-waisted wimp chickens. We’ve been riding on the courage of the town’s ancestors from the 1876 bank raid for over 100 years and we’re now morally bankrupt, no pun intended. It’s a sad day. I feel like turning in my spur.”

Noting that the weapon used in today’s robbery had not yet been found, KYMN radio’s Jim Friedman, organizer of the annual DJJD Horseshoe Hunt, said he would attempt to mobilize the citizenry in the morning to help find the suspect’s gun. When asked what he would do to motivate people to participate, Friedman said, “I haven’t got a clue.”

Very interesting. Sounds like they were more worried about themselves than anything. What about kids who walked to school that morning while all this was going on?? They failed to notify the schools so we could protect our children?? That in my mind is inexcusable. I am not happy with the NPD.

Also, in the spirit of your write-up Griff (which was great), next year on Oct. 29th I think we should celebrate “The Defeat of the Forcier Gang Days”. All of us yellow-bellied, lily-livered, milk-toasted, panty-waisted wimp chickens could show up at the Cow and do nothing but drink.

The NPD did notify schools. TOO late. I did not get an automated message from the principal OR an email from the superintendent until after 8:30am that morning. School starts at 8:20am. My daughter walked to school at 7:50am. If this happened at 2:30am, they had plenty of time to get the word out. Why no one informed parents til after school had started is beyond me. Someone wasn’t do their job. Shame on them for that!